Ill note a two things; this character is NOT the Punisher, or a simple vigilante. It is designed to have complex relationships with family, neighbourhood, crime, and the law - whilst remaining a clear protagonist.

Curtis Crane is a man of slightly short but strong frame. He has dark skin and a slightly exotic look to him. He usually cuts his hair to military grade shortness, and sports a neat goatee. He had one earing and a few scars on his body (in particular, one on his forehead). He has a US army tattoo on his right arm, and a tattoo of a Samurai on his left.

As Ronin, Curtis wears a customised protective vest and carries his “Street Special” shotgun in a large shoulder holster. He also wears his personalised “Bushido” Trench coat, complete with a Katana motif on the back. Inside his trench coat he has a few more concealed weapons.

Power Descriptions

Whilst Ronin himself has no powers, his “Street Special” weapon has some rather elegant and impressive effects, namely: “Iron Fist” (a straightforward round) “Divine Wind” (a booming shotgun blast that knocks people off their feet) “Dragon’s Breath” (a short burst of blindingly bright fire), “Hornet’s Nest” (fills the air with buzzing shrapnel) and “Ogre’s Breath” (a smouldering smoky shell fills the air with dense smoke).

History:

Curtis grew up on one of the most deprived streets in Bedlam, Nancy Street. For all its problems, the Nancy Street residents stuck together and the “Nancy Street Crew” would always form to beat back organised crime or street thugs. Ronin came from a troubled household but his saving grace was his Grandmother, who despaired of her daughter and son in law but loved Curtis; teaching him akido and karate from a yound age.

Curtis very smart kid. He did well at school, and would have gone far if the school and his home life was better; Aged 16, his good for nothing drug addled Father murdered his Mother.

Bitter, angry and impatient to leave Nancy Street, he joined the army. Here, he learned discipline and excelled. After some time in the infantry he turned to engineering and bomb disposal. He became an expert in weapons maintenance, modification, and design.

All that came to an end when he was caught by an IED in the Afghanistan. Left with a nice scar and concussion, he decided to leave. He respected his comrades in arms, but he didn’t really know what he was fighting for anymore.

Ronin returned to Nancy street and found it in worse shape than ever. Most of the Nancy Street Crew had disbanded (or in a few cases, had been killed), and it was rife with drugs, thugs, and worse. The Police were of little use and sometimes worse than the street thugs, taking bribes, corrupt, and sometimes plain sadistic or racist.

Moving into his Grandmothers house, he determined to do something about it: Dismantling the gangs on the streets, organised crime, and the corrupt in power. Naming himself Ronin, with his military, martial, and engineering expertis, he would be the honourable Samurai with no master…

Personality & Motivation:

Despite his tough upbringing (and Curtis is tough), Ronin has a strict code of honour. He won’t kill, he won’t maim, or torture. He meditates daily, and tries to ensure self-discipline. Thus, whilst he is not a forgiving man, and in some ways merciless, he is not sadistic or violent. He is not motivated by vengeance but by love for his friends, family, and neighbours. Whilst he operates outside the law (to bring down corruption) he actually has immense respect for the law (and its enforcers) when it works properly.

Curtis has a selectively cynical attitude. He doesn’t believe the police or the government do much (if anything) to help the poorest or the most vulnerable. He does however believe in his fellow man, his family, his friends, the social worker, the youth worker, and Nancy Street (his home). Whilst he often operates alone, he believes that we are stronger together. He has an interest in Zen and the Shinto religion; for all his “street” credentials, he is a self-educated and philosophical man.

Curtis is just as home repairing an automobile of a small businessman, fixing the Youth Centre computer, helping out in the soup kitchen for the homeless, or dropping off an OD’d drug addict to a medical centre.
Powers & Tactics:
Ronin / Curtis has no powers, but is an intelligent and physically capable man. He has extensive military and combat training and has been Practicing martial arts (mainly Akido and Karate) over twenty years. He has a number of self – designed / self – built paramilitary devices, the prime among them is his converted shotgun, the “Street Special”, a.k.a “Katana”.

The Street Special is a rather short, elegant and almost featureless weapon. It has less raw stopping power than a regular shotgun, but is more versatile, elegant, and reliable (and, importantly, non-lethal).

Perhaps his greatest strength is his loyalty, honour, and pure will power. This is backed up by the support and respect he has in his neighbourhood.

Complications:

Bushido: To a greater or lesser extent, Ronin keeps to the Bushido traditions. Acting honourably, fearlessly, and with self-control or restraint. Often this is to his advantage (e.g. the fearless feat) but sometimes not so; for instance, he will struggle to “back down” or “retreat” – he may not start a hopeless fight, but once in one, he won’t run from it either. He would be reluctant to use his weapons against a (single) unarmed opponent (unless that opponent was super powered).

Supply and Demand: Ronin doesn’t have any income. He relies on odd jobs (as a mechanic etc) which are cash in hand, the goodwill of Nancy Street, and “salvaging” (which includes taking what he needs from crooks he busts). This might mean he has problems replacing or repairing, or even reloading, his equipment.

Brothers in Arms: Usually cynical, Ronin will have big respect for military men (or women). Particularly those in the front line (medics, infantry, etc), veterans, or old-timers. He has less, but still some, respect for commanders etc. He will be inclined to automatically trust and help such individuals (or those that can effectively pretend to have such a background). This attitude is also prevalent towards many super heroes and police – at least ones who have proved themselves as compassionate and honourable.

Neighbourhood Watcher: Whilst a source of strength, Ronin also has a duty to protect Nancy Street, and to a lesser extent its neighbourhood and even Bedlam itself. He has a number of friends and family on the street that are dependants and sources of vulnerability (especially as his identity is essentially open). If his reputation is somehow marred, he will (at least transiently) lose his benefit feats.

Outlaw(ish): Technically Ronin is a vigilante, wanted by the Police. However, given his reputation and lack of serious crime (e.g. no murder), opinion on this is divided amongst the police force. Some (the corrupt) want his head on a spike (before, figuratively, he wants theirs on one). Some view him with favour, and even covertly support him (like his sister), most take a pragmatic position in between; they should ideally arrest him, but frankly they have bigger fish to fry and if he occasionally brings in a crook, best not to ask too many questions.

Local Hero: Ronin’s reputation and affinity to Nancy Street is extremely good. In general, the folk of Nancy Street will be helpful and accommodating. This benefit is a form of limited in scope but more effective Connected feat; he can call on (most) residents of Nancy Street to help – such as loaning a vehicle or keeping a look out without making a diplomacy roll, but on the other hand the range of this is limited (Nancy Street folk are not wealthy or powerful or, by and large, particularly skilled)

Informant: His younger sister, Eleanor “Ellie”, is a police officer who looks after the area. Hence, Ronin has access to local Police gossip and the local Police are a little better inclined to Ronin. Eleanor covers for Ronin, and aides him with information, but won’t actually fight with him. They have a symbiotic relationship (they provide each other with information).

Defensive Attack

Defensive Throw*

Equipment 4
Evasion 2
Fearless

Grappling Block

Grappling Finesse

Improved Critical 1 (Unarmed Attack)

Improved Disarm

Improved Initiative 2

Improved Pin

Improved Throw

Improved Trip
Improvised Tools

Jack of All Trades
Power Attack

Skill Mastery 1 (Drive, Mechanical, Disable Device, Acrobatics)

Startle

Takedown Attack 1
Uncanny Dodge 1 (Auditory)

Weapon Bind

*as per "Warriors and Warlocks"

Defensive Throw: If an opponent attacks you in melee combat and missed, you can make an immediate trip attack against him as a free action at your full attack bonus

Grappling Block: When you successfully block a melee attack while unarmed, you may initiate a grapple against your attacker as a free action without an initial attack roll